Use state machineries to stop violence in Orissa:Donkupar Roy

Shillong, Sept 3 (UNI) Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy has asked Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to use the state machineries to stop the attack against Christians in Orissa to avoid any backlash in Meghalaya.

Yesterday, Dr Roy faxed a letter to Mr Patnaik a day after Meghalaya Chief Secretary Ranjan Chatterjee spoke to his Orissa counterpart on the attack of the minority in Orissa.

"The Chief Minister has written to his Orissa counterpart asking him to use the government machineries to stop the attack on Christians so that there is no backlash in Meghalaya," Mr Chatterjee said.

Mr Chatterjee said he also had a telephonic conversation with his Orissa counterpart and expressed concern over the attack on Christians there.

Meghalaya is predominantly a Christian dominated state with large Hindu and Muslim presence especially in the cosmopolitan city Shillong.

Various Christian denominations here have expressed serious concern over the ongoing attack in Orissa. The Catholic Association of Khasi Jaintia Hills will take out a peace rally here on September 8 to express solidarity with the communal riot-hit people of Orissa.

The association has also invited people from all religions, including Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Buddhist to attend the peace rally.

"Massive violence against Christians and Christian institutions continues unabated in Orissa. According to reports, 17 people have died and 1784 houses, 45 churches, four convents, five children hostel and five Pasteur institutes have been destroyed so far," he said.

The Association submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Donkupar Roy, urging him to send a "peace team" to Orissa to seek protection of the violence-hit people there. The Association will also hand over the memorandum to the President and the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, the Meghalaya People's Human Rights Council (MPHRC) has also faxed a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging him to intervene and stop the attack on Christian in Orissa and protect their rights, lives and properties.

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